ONION FARMING

MADAKI FATSEN TIMON

22ND JANUARY, 2024
ABOUT ONION

• BOTANICAL NAME IS ALLIUM CEPA

• RICH IN VITAMIN AND MINERALS
• COOL\HOT WEATHER CROP
• CASH CROP
• HEAVY FEEDER CROP (LOVES FERTILIZER)
• EASY TO CULTIVATE/STORE
HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS

• RICH IN MINERAL PROPER FLUID BALANCE AND MUSCLE CONTRACTION

• RICH IN FIBER
• LOWERS CHOLESTEROL IN BLOOD
• ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES
• FLAVONOIDS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR PROTECTION
• GOOD SOURCE OF VITAMIN C/B
• CONTAINS ANTIOXIDANT (DETOXIFIES THE SYSTEM)
SOIL REQUIREMENT

• CLAY LOAMY SOILS

• SANDY LOAM SOILS
• WELL DRAINED AND AERATED
• SOIL PH = 6-7.5
• SOIL HIGH IN NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM
TEMPERATURE/RAINFALL

• BEST WEATHER 20-26 DEGREES CENTIGRADES FOR VEGETATIVE DEVELOPMENT

• 30-35DEGREES CENTIGRADES FOR BULB FORMATION/DEVELOPMENT
• NEEDS MORE SUNSHINE/HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR BIG BULB DEVELOPMENT
SEED SELECTION TYPE

• DIRECT SEEDLING OR SEEDS - YOU WILL NEED TO DO NURSERY BED

• ONION SETS –SMALLER ONION BULB
SEED VARIETY

• RED CREOLE – 150 DAYS

• BOMBAY RED – 160 DAYS
• WHITE CREOLE – 155 DAYS
• CHERRY MOUNTAIN F1 HYBRID – 165 DAYS
FACTORS TO CONSIDERED FOR SEED
SELECTION

• WEATHER/DAY LENGTH
• DISEASE RESISTANCE
• BULB SIZE AND SHAPE
• STORAGE CHARACTERISTICS
• MATURITY
• YIELD POTENTIAL
DRY SEASON LAND PREPARATION

• CLEAR LAND
• STUMP LAND
• PLOUGH LAND
• HARROW MULTIPLE TIMES TO MAKE SOILS LOOSE ENOUGH
• BROADCAST CHICKEN/RABBIT/COW DUNG WITH ASH AND 10.10.10 OR 14:14:14
INORGANIC FERTILIZER ON LAND (OR UREA)
• HARROW ONCE TO MIX SOILS AND FERTILIZER
• MAKE SLIGHTLY HILLY BEDS (1M, 15CM-20CM HIGH)
DRY SEASON NURSERY PLANTING


CREATE HOLES (2CM DEEP, 3CM-6CM APART) ON THE RIDGE USING SMALL HOE

PLANT SEED AND COVER WITH SOIL

SPRAY INSECTICIDES TO PREVENT ANTS

IRRIGATE THE BEDS USING SPRINKLER MORNING AND EVENING FOR 7 DAYS
(TWICE DAILY)

MORNING=6.30AM-7AM

EVENING = FROM 5.30PM

ADD MULCHING MATERIAL
DRY SEASON NURSERY PLANTING


DAY 15: SPRAY NURSERY WITH PESTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES

USE HAND TO WEED BED OR SPRAY HERBICIDES.

YOU CAN SIDE DRESS WITH 10:10:10 OR 14:14:14 ABOVE 15 DAYS

KEEP IRRIGATING ONCE IN 1-3 DAYS

HARDENING: LEAVE NURSERY WITHOUT WATER FOR 3 DAYS (30-35 DAYS)

WATER ONCE AFTER HARDENING TO SOFTEN SOIL AND TRANSPLANT THE NEXT
DAY
LAND PREPARATION (TRANSPLANTING)
• CLEAR LAND
• STUMP LAND
• PLOUGH LAND TWICE
• HARROW EXTENSIVELY TO OBTAIN FINE TILT (THE LOOSER THE SOIL THE
LARGER THE BULB)
• BROADCAST CHICKEN/RABBIT/COW DUNG WITH ASH AND 10.10.10 OR 14:14:14
INORGANIC FERTILIZER ON LAND (OR UREA) –> 2-3 WEEKS BEFORE PLANTS
• HARROW ONCE TO MIX SOILS AND FERTILIZER
• MAKE SLIGHTLY HILLY BEDS (1M, 15CM-20CM HIGH)
DRY SEASON TRANSPLANTING

TRANSPLANT BETWEEN 30-40DAYS (4-6 INCH TALL)

CREATE HOLES (3-4CM DEEP, 15CM X 30CM APART OR 13CM X 15CM(MAXIMUM
YIELD/EFFICIENT LAND USE)) ON THE RIDGE USING SMALL HOE

PLANT SEEDLINGS AND COVER ROOT WITH SOIL

APPLY MULCHING MATERIAL (ENRICH SOIL ORGANIC CONTENT/SUPPRESS
WEED)

IRRIGATE THE BEDS DEEPLY ONCE IN 3-5 DAYS

AT BULB FORMATION STATE, INCREASE IRRIGATION DEEPLY TO ONCE IN 5-7
DAYS

AVOID APPLICATION OF FRESH MANURE (INTRODUCES DISEASES), RATHER
COMPOST MANURE

SPRAY INSECTICIDES ONCE EVERY 7-14 DAYS BUT ADJUST BASED ON PEST
IRRIGATION OF ONION

• WEEK 1: IRRIGATE TWICE A DAY

• WEEK 2: IRRIGATE ONCE A DAY
• WEEK 3-4: ONCE 2 - 3 DAYS
• WEEK 5 - UPWARD: ONCE IN 5 - 7 DAYS
• WEEK 14 – UPWARD: – ONCE IN 10-14 DAYS
NOTE: Require enough water during bulb formation but too much water can cause rot
FERTILIZER APPLICATION

• DURING LAND PREPARATION: MIX CHICKEN OR RABBIT OR COW DUNG HIGHLY

WITH 10:10:10 OR 14:14:14 (NPK) MODERATELY, HARROW LAND AND CREATE BED
OR RIDGE
• WEEK 3: SIDE DRESS WITH 10:10:10 OR 14:14:14 (NPK)

NOTE: Side dress by applying fertilizer once every 2-3 weeks. You can apply organic
compost regularly. And ensure you water during every fertilizer application.
PEST/DISEASE CONTROL


SPRAY INSECTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES ONCE EVERY 7-14 DAYS BUT ADJUST
BASED ON PEST ACTIVITY
• CROP ROTATION
• HARVEST IN TIME
NOTE: INSECTICIDES TO USE ARE NEEM OIL, PYRETHROID (PERMETHRIN) OR
SPINOSAD
FUNGICIDES TO USE INCLUDE: MANCOZEB, COPPER BASED FUNGICIDES,
CHLOROTHALONIL
WEED CONTROL

• WEED THE BED WITH HAND OR

• OR
• SPRAY HERBICIDES WHENEVER YOU NOTICE WEEDS
• N/B: HERBICIDES: PRE-EMERGENCE HERBICIDES LIKE PENDIMETHALIN
OR
POST-EMERGENCE HERBICIDES LIKE OXYFLOURFEN
PEST OF ONIONS

• ONION THRIPS – ATTACK LEAVES

• ONION MAGGOTS - ATTACK LEAVES
• APHIDS - ATTACK ONION PLANTS(TRANSMITS VIRAL DISEASES)
• LEAF MINERS - ATTACK LEAVES
• WIREWORM – ATTACK BULB (BORE HOLES IN THEM)
• ARMY WORMS – ATTACK FOILAGE
DISEASE OF ONION

• DOWNY MILDEW (PERONOSPORA DESTRUCTOR) – YELLOWING AND WILTING

LEAVES
• BOTRYTIS LEAF BLIGHT (SQUAMOSA) – FORMS GRAYISH-WHITE LESIONS ON
LEAVES
• PURPLE BLOTCH– PURPLE LESION ON LEAVES
• FUSARIUM BASAL ROT: CAUSES ROT OF ROOT AND WILTS
HARVESTING
• HARVEST WHEN TOP BENDS AND FALL OVER OR TIME IT
• GRASP TOP DURING HANDLING
• TRIM: REMOVE LOOSE SKINS AND TOP LEAVES
• GROUP THE HARVESTED ONIONS INTO 4 CATEGORIES
(LARGE, MEDIUM, SMALL-SIZED AND
WOUNDED/DISEASED).
STORAGE

• CURING: DRY ONION BULBS UNDER SHED WELL

VENTILATED
• TRIM: REMOVE LOOSE SKINS
• STORE IN A COOL/WARM AND DRY PLACE
• ENSURE THAT THE STORAGE ROOM IS WELL AERATED
• STORE AWAY FROM POTATOES. BOTH RELEASE GASES
THAT ACCELERATE FOLIAGE